Snorkeling Hol Chan Marine Reserve – All You Need To Know

Snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve was the highlight of our time in Belize!

A trip to Belize – specifically the Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker islands – is not complete without a visit to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Considering snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve? Or just wondering what makes it so special? Whatever you need to know will be discussed in this post!


Hol Chan Marine Reserve – Good To Know Before You Go

Let’s dive right in. But not scuba dive, because this time, we’re snorkeling!

Where is Hol Chan Marine Reserve located?

The Marine Reserve is part of the second-biggest barrier reef in the world: The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The Marine Reserve includes the southern marine and coastal areas of Ambergris Caye and the mangrove islands of Boca Chica and Cangrejo Shoals.

According to WWF, the efforts of the marine reserve have proven to be succesful. The wildlife and corals are thriving; which makes it one of the best places in the world to go for a snorkeling trip.

How deep is Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley?

Depth is a deciding factor for making or breaking a snorkeling trip. So it’s a great thing to consider. The maximum depth of the reserve is ‘only’ 30 feet (9 meters). With its high visibility, you can see all around you, and even to the bottom. Since Hol Chan is a channel (it translates to ‘Little Channel’ from Mayan), there is a range in depth, starting at just 5 feet (1.5 meters).

Because some areas are so shallow, wildlife can come very close. Please remember to NOT TOUCH anything! Not any of the wildlife, but also no corals, plants, or even trash. It could have been there for a while, and some organisms or animals could call it home by now.

Is it safe to snorkel at Hol Chan Marine Reserve?

Yes. It’s perfectly safe to snorkel! Although there are nurse sharks, who look a bit intimidating, they are considered to be harmless. As you might expect there is a ‘but’: don’t touch them. They honestly don’t care about us humans being near them, I mean, a few even swam into me without a care in the world. But sticking out your hand to pet them could be perceived as threatening.

Can you visit without a guide?

No, you can not visit without a guide. There is a limited amount of visitors allowed per day to help protect the area. For that reason, spaces have to be reserved in advance by the tour companies.

To be honest, having a guide there makes the whole experience better. We had an amazing guide who knew exactly where to look for different animals. He knew where some turtles lived, where to find snoozing nurse sharks, and we even got to see a manatee.

A tour boat that takes you to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve

How much does it cost to go to Hol Chan Marine Reserve?

This fully depends on the type of tour you decide to do. Expect to pay about $90-$110 for a day trip with multiple destinations. They often include food, fruit, and water.

Expect to visit at least the Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, but some tours also include the Conch Shell Graveyard and a Turtle Garden. If you’re going from Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) or Belize City, you will likely also stop at Caye Caulker for a visit.


How to Get to Hol Chan Marine Reserve 

There are a few places from where the Hol Chan tours depart from. Most of them go from San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, but it’s also possible to go from Caye Caulker or even Belize City. You can compare both islands here!

All these options are great, although you get a little less bang for your buck from Belize City. Nonetheless, it’s a great option for cruise passengers that stop in the city.

Where to stay

Since it’s unlikely you’ll be visiting from Belize City if you’re not a cruise passenger, I’ll give a recommendation for San Pedro and Caye Caulker.

San Pedro – Belize Budget Suites

Affordable but good and with a nice garden. The suites have private bathrooms, air conditioning and a kitchenette to save some money by cooking your own food.

Caye Caulker – Jan’s Hotel

If the perfect location is what you’re after, this is the hotel for you. Right on the beach with a view of the barrier reef in the distance. Well, you can see the waves crashing on it. The corals don’t stick out.

There are more great options for accommodation on Caye Caulker.


Our Experience Snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve

We visited Caye Caulker and San Pedro on our 10-month Latin-American backpacking trip. We went mainly because of the Marine Reserve, but are a big fan of the island life as well.

Our tour consisted of a few amazing places. We started with the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and had an amazing time there. As soon as we jumped in we were greeted by 2 friendly and curious turtles. Honestly, my favourite animal to encounter is turtles. So it already couldn’t get any better. Or so I thought.

While snorkeling we encountered an abundance of different sea life. Massive rays, friendly sharks, and even more turtles. The whole experience was just incredible, and despite being advanced divers and having scuba-dived in many incredible places, I still sometimes think back to this snorkel trip.


Best Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkeling Tours

As discussed, it’s not possible to visit the Marine Reserve by yourself. So here are the highest-rating tours from all three departure points:


From Caye Caulker: Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour


From San Pedro: Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour – Ambergris Caye


✅ From Belize City: Hol Chan Marine Park and Shark Ray Alley Snorkeling


Snorkeling Hol Chan Marine Reserve – FAQs

I’ve been as thorough as possible. But you might have some other questions. These are the frequently asked ones and their answers:

When is the best time of year to visit the Marine Reserve?

Generally, the best time to visit all of Belize is in the dry season from January to May. With the least chance of rain and clouds, you get the best visibility underwater.

If you’d like to avoid the biggest crowd, visiting in December is ideal. The weather is still great, only a tiny bit of rain occasionally, and everything is quieter.

What is the best shore to snorkel in Belize?

The best shores for snorkeling are the ones on Half Moon Caye. You’ll have to take a boat there, so it’s not like it’s off the coast of Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye. However, I’ve seen quite some aquatic life just snorkeling in the split on Caye Caulker. There aren’t many corals, but some fish are swimming around.


Snorkeling Hol Chan Marine Reserve – Final Thoughts

Alright! We’ve discussed a lot. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a top destination for nature and marine life enthusiasts. You’ll see an abundance of tropical fish, turtles, rays, and even some friendly nurse sharks.

The only way to visit is a tour, and it’s definitely worth the money. A once-in-a-lifetime experience you will not ever forget.